Of course, the idea that Kairo would end up with someone like Isidore was kind of funny. Kairo had always struck him as a self-sufficient guy, and Ed had thought he’d date the same. Not that Isidore couldn’t take care of himself. It was simply that he was too nice and needed someone to watch out for him.
Isidore clearly triggered every last one of K’s protective instincts. Considering everything that had happened, he was surprised Kairo ever allowed Isidore to step outside. Last he’d heard, Kairo was running a thorough background check on all of Isidore’s security team. It would be amazing if any of them still had a job when he was done.
With a heavy sigh, Isidore turned from the window as the plane disappeared from sight. His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes when he looked at Ed. “Shall we go find some lunch? I know this great place with outdoor seating that offers an excellent view of the city.”
“Yeah, but how’s the food?” Ed demanded as they started walking down the hall.
“The best, I promise. You’ll love it.”
They strolled out of the quiet section of the airport that catered to private planes and high-end clients and into the more crowded terminal where travelers were rushing to catch their commercial flights. It was surprisingly nice to be at the airport and not in a hurry for once.
Kairo released Isidore’s hand and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll text West and see if he wants to meet us.”
As they walked along, Ed couldn’t help scanning the people, easily shuffling them into a variety of categories—exhausted parents, distracted students, former military, business traveler, and checked-out vacationer. The potential threats were assessed with barely more than a glance running from a one to a five. Nearly everyone was a one—completely harmless. There were a couple of threes. He hated to admit that the smiling Kairo probably would have fooled him into ranking the man a three, and he would’ve been very wrong.
All in all, nothing out of the ordinary until he spotted a short, slim man walking briskly through the terminal with a black ball cap pulled low over his face and a black jacket. His hands were stuffed deep into his pockets, and his head was on a swivel as he constantly looked around and over his shoulder. That behavior alone put him at an automatic five.
“K,” Ed started in a low voice. “Ten o’clock.”
“Yeah, I made him. Charlie said we keep a low profile.”
He shouldn’t have been surprised. Kairo might appear to be totally wrapped up in his boyfriend, but he was aware of his surroundings, if only to protect Isidore.
Isidore glanced at his watch and then from Kairo to Ed. “What’s at ten o’clock?”
“Possible trouble, but it’s not our trouble. That’s a problem for airport security. We just keep moving,” Kairo explained.
“But if something could happen that results in other people getting hurt, shouldn’t we act?” Isidore’s confused gaze darted back to Kairo yet again.
Hell, he was glad those eyes weren’t pleading with him. That was all on Kairo’s shoulders.
“We’re mercs, not the world police. We act only if we’re hired or if we can do something without other people noticing,” Kairo said.
“Oh, okay.” Isidore sounded as if he accepted the explanation but didn’t completely understand it. That was fine. Kairo would help him. Theirs was a free but complex world. They had to accept that they couldn’t save everyone. The rules of operation helped them stay safe, protecting the team, their contacts, clients, and family.
For now, Ed’s full attention was on Mr. Shady, who’d just spotted Ed watching him. Their eyes met behind large glasses with black rims. It was hard to guess his age. His clothes were baggy and nondescript casual like a young twentysomething, but those green eyes seemed so much older.
Ed fully expected the guy to break off the eye contact and hurry away. But he didn’t. He marched straight toward Ed with a very determined look on his face.
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit. This felt bad.
Hell no, he didn’t want this kind of trouble.
He was not going to be a trouble magnet. That was not his job. That went to Charlie and sometimes Kairo. Not him.
As the man drew near, Ed held up an empty hand, preparing to say the one Greek phrase he’d managed to learn: I don’t speak Greek.
The words never had a chance to escape. The stranger grabbed his hand with both of his, pressing something against his palm. “Please, I need your help. Send this to Dr. Janet Jones. She’ll understand,” the stranger pleaded in a tone so soft Ed could barely make out his words over the cacophony around them.
“But—”
“Please, help me.”
Ed’s eyes met the stranger’s again, and it was as if he’d reached inside his chest and grabbed his heart. Fear and desperation turned his eyes into glistening, wet spring leaves. Ed was frozen, unable to say anything.